Is there an answer to the ever growing social underclass.

[R1Geezer]

Highlighted recently by the Mathews case, what can be done about the whole swathe of society that have developed into a parasitical layer, an underclass, contributing nothing and living on an ever more generous benefits system. How can we get people away from the idea that you can make a career out of having children. What is the answer to the section of society that's only ambition is the aquisition of a life funded by the hard working tax payer? Where they have no aspirations for themselves and where their own children are largeky the tools by which the extract money from the state to maintain the standard lifestyle of fast food, fags and Booze. Is there no system where by this behaviour can be deterred? This is not a poitical rant but a real cross party issue. I think it's a problem that would take a generation to solve not a parliament of one colour or the other.

[B00]

quinlad- are you seriously suggesting that these godawful dole sponging womens (and mens) children are now being well fed and cared for with the handouts they are getting?

[Quinlad]

No. I'm suggesting they'd be even less well fed if they had no benefits.

[The Sherman]

R1Geezer I sort of see where your going with the giving them the bare minimum. the problem is that if you have this 2 tiered society (and they really will be the underclass then!)
then the bottom tier is going to want what the top tier have.
they can do that in 2 ways
1 work hard - we can already dismiss that or we wouldnt be having this conversation

2 -steal from the rich.

The answer is to definitley not take money away from them because it would cost more in the long run. Maybe there needs to be more encouragement it schools ie if it looks like they aint gonna make it academically then push them towards trades or the armed forces. Show them they can have a good life in work that may not need a lot of brain power but at least can provide them a decent standard of living.

[danchip]

i think the proposals announced by the government today are a good step in the right direction but why wait 2 years to bring them into place

is this so people will vote for them in the next election and then it can get swept under the carpet like so many election promises

[RevFunk]

Abolish ALL child benefit - Why do we reward people for having kids?

Any one claiming benefits should work for at least 1 day per week in the community

[danchip]

child benefit is the government investing in the future of the country, unfortunately this investment is misused in some cases

most families who aren't misusing the resource need the extra help

[voltr4m4x]

Whilst recently spending a 3 months' assignment in the USA, having completed my fourth Lecture at Havard University, I petitioned around one hundred and eighty students on their views concerning social welfare. I boasted the fact (or is it a "fact" ?) that social welfare in the United Kingdom far outweighs anything else worldwide, including that which exists throughout France, notwithstanding the National Health Service, Education and Public Transport.

My claim was refuted.

The response from my students (who were drawn chiefly from the United States and Canada) was that "any attempt at a welfare state on the lines adopted in Britain was always open to abuse and would be deemed to be a failure, leading to complete dependency on the part of every man, woman and child".